KABUL, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Three civilians were killed as NATO aircraft targeted suspected position of Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province, a local official said Tuesday.

"NATO aircraft pounded three persons all of them farmers when they were busy in irrigating their lands in Panjwai district Monday night killing the trio," Hajji Shah Baran the district chief of Panjwai told Xinhua.

He also called on NATO forces in Kandahar to initiate probe into the incident.

However, no officers at NATO-led ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) were immediately available to make comment.

Afghan government has repeatedly called on international troops based in Afghanistan to coordinate military operations with local authorities in order to avoid harming non-combatants.